Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-04
Animal Magnetism.
From the chronological Journal.

1 do not like the term ''hypnotism," and hence.
use the old name Will relate an experience in
my own family, in which this marvellous force,
used for holy purpose, with faith in its whole
someness. all in strong tide OF maternal affection
worked its wonderful efficiency.
My son Alvin, something like twelve years old,
was rejoicing In the din OF POWDER so dear to the
boy on the Fourth Of July. He had made what he
designed for burning mountain OF wet powder
and having applied match to ignite it without
effort, he poured dry powder from a flask he held
In his hand, but some little spark was latent In
the heap, which exploded and ignited the flask as
well. The result was terrible and the hand was
dreadfully shattered. lifted him upon the bed,
ana while waiting for q physician in the neigh
borhoOd cast aside all my distressed sel1ism and
proceeded TO make the magnetic passes. Soon DR.
Livingston appeared anu examined the hand. 81
must remove one, ii not two. OF the fingers" he
said. No-no, DOCTOR" l cried, "do not do It;
splinter them up, they can be saved; am sure
they can"
The doctor examined the patient eyes and pulse
and asked, sis he asleep?"
"Oh, yes; he Will not cry nor move. Do not
fear"
"Can you keep him as he is 80
Certalply; all his pain Is sootled, as you see."
me d Goctor proceeded to dress the wounded hand,
more IMAM once commenting on his apparent Tree
dom from pain and with tender thOughtfulness
helped Inc put him into bed.
prepared myself Tor long nights OF Watching
me weather Vas very hot, and the good, faithful
doctor, Dy MS gentle, unremitting attention Sug-
gested fear OF the worst. never left the poor
boy, not even an hour. / Soothed the restlessneSs
OF pain and FEVER by repeating the magnetic passes
which never Jailed OF their effort. Tie tips OF the
nnSerS were just Visible under the bandageS and
resOrted TO a process OF my own to avoid gan
CREME, by many times in an hour touching them
with WITH, solution OF salt and vinegar. At first my
heart sank Within Inc TO see them black and pufed
but at length this grew to be less apparent
In all my care and watching was faithfully at
tended by my good, devoted Bridget who could
hardly be persuaded TO leave me to my anxious
watching. All! there is nothing finer or sweeter
imam an Irish heart. No sacrifice is too great to
aartli-
One night Alvin was more restless than ordi-
nary, his head burning hot and his throat dry
ing this took them In her warm, generous Irish
hands, While l SOOthed him with magnetism
when TO my horror, in that dark midnight, saw
her 1all to the n0Or In Strong commissions made
no cutlery, but simply laid my hand upon her
head, and with inpuls.ve prayers to God and
lender words 10 her, soon Saw her open her eyes
We are wonderfully and mysteriously made.
AFTER long, long effort, OF days If not weeks the
black tips OF the wounded fingers put on a faint
t1nge OF red-and the diScOlOred blood escaped by
the bandages This was followed by the first signs
/ shall never forget the pleasure the doctor
evinced as the case tended to recovery, and his
JOY when, upon removing the bandage, the hand
presented little blemish-no stiffness OF Joint or
loss OF function.
Then comes. of course, a bill for such faithful,
tender service, which bill was never presented
and when named 1t, the reply was in Character
with The preceding goodness:
There Is no bill, madam have been learning
witnessed, and am more than repaid"
This subtle force is help and blessing to every
teething may be soothed to sleep by it, and in its
unconscious struggle for life and growth and com
fort many period of irritation is involved, which
MAJ be banished by this simple process MANY
OF the discordant and tiresome experiences of the
nursery may be made TO give way to this healing
process, provided the mother has the Self-control
requisite for the purpose.
Ny heart has ached to see child screaming
purple In the face. under the ill-magnetic nervous
81 m an lnnr, r,t,
process. Many and many time had such q
mother brought her Child TO me, saying, "Just
lay your hand upon 1t and it will be STILL and
assuredly 1t would settle down to infantile sweet
ness.
Mothers do not half understand the full func-
lions OF maternity IL they do spontaneously re-
sort to this healing process. gentle pressure over
the eyes, SOFT, warm hand passed down the
Spinal column the little foot or hand tenderly held
are or magic power. often what is called item
per-" violent and unnatural Shriekny about lit
tie hindrances may be allayed by this most mar
| velous force, and then the child be saved from
many an after year or violence.
Every person has more or less OF this magnet
| 1sm-nOt always wholesome in knd-and much OF
the experience In households may be traced to The
good or i'll magnetic quality OF its inmates; hence
the propriety OF separate beds and the reasons
| why some persons can never be together without
quarrel.
Many OF the charges OF sorcery and w1tchery
may be traced to this, at the time, unknown ele-
ment. Pitiful as the history or the Salem witch
craft is, 1t was not all fraud nor all delusion
the unhappy Paris children, bred In the gloom OF
4
| sensitive to what seemed malignant influence to
them, and in the presence OF certain persons felt
as If pins and needles were being thrust into them
| am sensitive in the same way, but fortunately
have been able to master 1t. Mrs. Horace Greeley
who held conventional rules in contempt was
known more than once to spring from her seat and
take one the opposite side OF the room, excaiming
as she did Sd 81 can't sit near you-yOur sphere Is
diSagreeable to me-"
Some persons have so strong and sullen q mag
netism OF the earth earthly that they gather the
atoms of earth about them and "walk" when
they ought to be quietly sleeping in their graves
| NOW such persons are strongly magnetic, but
not OF wholesome kind. Let those of an III
regulated life and strong passions forbsar to use
THIS divine force OF magnetism, and those who
possess this power accept it with reverence II not
with holy fear; for II they do for time absorb
the soul OF another into themselves they hold the
| gods.
what newspaper reporters and inferior novelists
dignity by the name OF love Is nothing less than
this animal force misdirected. Were my subject
one TO justify moral would warn my sex
against an influence which may Ne divine and
4 NAV ha dpvflish